. . . [Martynas is as] formidable as an arranger as he is as a player; in the Vivaldi he is playing the role of a good deal of the orchestra as well as of soloist, and the small ensemble accompanying him is deployed in such a way that the contemporary pop rhythms seem to flow naturally out of the tangos and Eastern European dances of yore. The bottom line is that this is a tremendous amount of fun, and if you think you don't like accordions, think again.

Record Review /
James Manheim,
Allmusic.com / 04. February 2014

Accordion Hero Aims To Conquer The World

Martynas, winner of the Accordion World Cup, lifts the spirits with a riotous ride through a wealth of musical styles

Chart success is on the cards for Martynas. The 22-year-old Lithuanian accordionist makes his debut on Decca with his self-titled album, a collection of rich classics, gypsy dances and potent arrangements of contemporary hits. Martynas turns his spectacular technique, charismatic personality and musical panache to a programme of pieces that covers everything from Brahms’s FifthHungarian Dance and Verdi’s La forza del destino (Jean de Florette) to Lady Gaga’s Telephone. Hear the accordion as you’ve never heard it before, from the percussion effects produced by Martynas in Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold to his impassioned take on Nossa Nossa, the Brazilian football anthem. Accordion hero Martynas joins forces with superstar violinist David Garrett to perform Gardel’s famous tango, Por una cabeza. Their vibrant partnership adds to the wide appeal of a compelling tracklist that sizzles with energy.

Martynas passionately believes in the power of his instrument to demolish boundaries between different musical genres. He is determined, above all, to reveal the full expressive potential of accordion to the broadest possible audience. “Yes, I want to change the image of the accordion,” he observes. “But I’m also trying to show all the different possibilities I have as a performer with this instrument. In my home country, people see the accordion as a folk instrument, but I always had an ambition to expand that attitude and make the instrument more popular.” Martynas was produced by John Haywood, widely known for his work with David Garrett, and includes sassy accompaniments for a gipsy-style band, string quartet and orchestra.

Martynas’ natural gift for communication was recognised at home in 2010 when he stormed to victory in Lithuania’s Got Talent. The young musician, who was studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London at the time, became a primetime television star in his native land. There’s a special magic about Martynas’ music-making, clear in the fine details and big bones of his interpretations. His album offers listeners a chance to experience the fine artistry that helped him win the “Coupe Mondiale”, the accordionist’s World Cup, at the 2010 World Accordion Players’ Competition.

“I’d always dreamt about taking part in the ‘Coupe Mondiale’, but I never had the courage or enough time to prepare myself,” Martynas recalls. “But it was held in Croatia in 2010, so it was convenient for me to fly from London. I had a good programme ready prepared so everything seemed to be perfect. I entered in the piano accordion category and won. I really couldn’t believe it!”

In Lithuania, Martynas is seen as a local hero. He regularly appears on national television and was recently appointed by the country’s government as a tourism ambassador. Earlier this year the Lithuanian Tourism Office in the UK made Martynas an official Tourism Ambassador for Lithuania.

“Music to me is a never-ending journey,” comments Martynas, “a journey to different countries, continents and sometimes even different planets. Most importantly it is a journey in time, revealing exciting discoveries of contrasting musical styles and genres in which I feel free and which I adore. The accordion is an irreplaceable companion on all of my journeys. Just like me, it’s modern, youthful, mysterious and very bohemian – we’re a perfect match!”